Using the skin, hooves, and horns of cows who die a natural death

[Guest guest]

This is a very good point presented by Madan Gopal Prabhu.

 

>So a class of men exist who do it.

>We just give the dead body of cow to them and they do the needfull.

 

One may not feel inclined to do this sort of work even if working with the

cows and doing "Vaisya" service. Many of the devotees in ISKCON who are

working with cows/oxen are, in fact, brahmanas doing this service because it

is needed and for the sake of educating the masses (as well as to please the

Sri Guru and Sri Krishna). It does seem more like the work of a sudra to

process the dead body of a cow.

 

Of course, in a true vaisya program with true vaisyas (business/profit

oriented at heart), the cows, though viewed with considerable affection and

respect, wouldn't be considered to be on the same level as a family pet. So

perhaps it wouldn't be as disturbing for the lead cowherd to process them

himself in that case. Still, it seems more like the sort of work to be

haneded over to one of his sudras/laborers (my opinion only).

 

It would be nice if ISKCON used the leather from it's own cows, at least in

India where it could be put to use making mrdangas - there has been periodic

concern about the source of the leather used to make mrdangas for the

sankirtan movement; whether it's coming from cows that died naturally or

cows that were killed. This leads to greater production of fiberglass &

plastic mrdangas which introduces a whole other level of ugra-karma.

 

***On a completely unrelated note, I noticed this morning in my PAMHO

"Address Book Changes" on wincom, that "Rabindranatha (das) ACBSP (Los

Angeles, CA - USA)" is listed as a "Suspended User." Isn't he the one who is

in charge of maintaining this conference? Does anyone know what's going on

with him or where he is? I've been trying to get my cow conference email

address updated for several months now. Anyone who is able to update

addresses, please update to "gopal (AT) srinama (DOT) com" - Thanks.

 

Ys,

Gopal Das

 

 

==========================

>Respected prabhus,

>

>Please accept my humble obeisances.

>All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

>

>In one sense yes its difficult to do skin our cows and use their horns etc.

>But from another point of view that's lord Sri Krsna'a arrangement for us

>by the law of Purnam adah purnam idam.........

>

>Ultimately its the body which is now dead. At the same time leather is a

>very usefull item in human existence. Even the reins which Sri Krsna drew

>of Arjuna's chariot were most likely made of leather. Its just like using

>wood etc. Infact in wood we are killing the tree.

>

>Cow is most revered in our life but at the same time it is the soul's

>prescence in the body that makes it revered not the body. Just as even when

>a dear one dies we burn his body. We do it to our dear one's dead body. The

>dead body has to be disposed in some way. Or if we bury her then how can

>we allow the body of our cow to be eaten by insects etc.

>

>Still we may not have the heart to do it. So a class of men exist who do

>it.

>We just give the dead body of cow to them and they do the needfull. Even SP

>has put this point in his conversation.

>

>At the same time these items are indisposibly needed in human society. So f

>the dead cows skin is not used then what is most not desired will take

>place.....

>

>At the same time if some one may not do it and bury his dead cow that is >

>also not wrong.

>

>These are some of my opinions.

>

>Your Servant

>Madan Gopal Das